Centre dismisses reports of Bhutan rejecting E20 petrol proposal, says no export offer was made
New Delhi, July 5
The Centre on Sunday rejected media reports claiming that Bhutan turned down an Indian proposal to import E20 petrol, clarifying that no such offer was made by Indian Oil Marketing Companies and that there is no proposal to export the fuel to the neighbouring country.
"Claims that Bhutan declined an offer to import E20 petrol from India are incorrect," the ministry said.
"No such offer has been made by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and there is no proposal for export of E20 petrol to Bhutan," it added.
The clarification came after media reports claimed that Bhutan had declined an Indian proposal to supply E20 petrol due to concerns over fuel storage infrastructure and the compatibility of vehicles with higher ethanol-blended fuel.
The reports, citing Bhutanese officials, said the country had requested Indian OMCs to continue supplying conventional petrol instead of E20, pointing to technical and infrastructure-related challenges.
According to the reports, Bhutan's concerns were linked to the hygroscopic nature of ethanol, which absorbs moisture more readily than conventional petrol. Officials were reported to have expressed apprehension that ageing underground fuel storage tanks in the country's mountainous terrain could be susceptible to water seepage, increasing the risk of phase separation. Such a development, the reports said, could affect fuel quality and potentially damage vehicle engines.
However, the Centre categorically denied the claims, reiterating that Indian OMCs had not made any proposal to export E20 petrol to Bhutan. It said reports suggesting that Bhutan had rejected such an offer were without basis.
India's E20 petrol programme, which blends 20 per cent ethanol with petrol, is a key component of the government's strategy to reduce dependence on crude oil imports, lower vehicular emissions and promote domestic biofuel production. As part of the nationwide rollout of cleaner fuels, E20 petrol is now available across the country.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm glad India is taking a leadership role in biofuels, but it's important to respect the technical concerns of neighbors. Bhutan's worries about old tanks and moisture are valid - phase separation is a real issue in hilly areas. Hope we can find a collaborative solution.
Honestly, I'd rather see our focus on domestic rollout first. Many of our own cities still aren't fully transitioned to E20. Let's get our own house in order before exporting. But glad the government is transparent about this. 🇮🇳
Misleading headlines create unnecessary tension between friendly nations. Bhutan is our close partner and we share a great relationship. Both sides should ensure accurate communication in future. Technical discussions shouldn't be blown out of proportion.
Ah! So it was false news all along. Media needs to be more careful before publishing reports that can damage our international image. E20 is a good initiative - more ethanol means more income for our sugarcane farmers too. 😊
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